Railway-track securer



No. 6|0,-204. Patented Sept. 6, I898.

T. SHERWUOD.

RAILWAY TRACK SECURER.

(No Model.)

' rrrcn,

THOMAS SIIERWVOOD, OF BELCI-IERTOWVN, MASSACHUSETTS.

RAILWAY-TRACK SECURER= SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.610,204, dated September 6, 1898.

Application filed November 13, 1897. Serial No. 658,458. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS SHERWOOD, a

I citizen of the United States, residing at Belchertown, in the countyof Hampshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Means for Securing Railway-Rails in Position, ofwhich the following is a full and complete specification, such as willenable those skilled in the art to which it appert-ains to make and usethe same.

This invention relates to the construction of railways, and particularlyto means for holding the rails in position; and the object thereof is toprovide improved devices for this purpose by means of which the ordinarytransverse ties are dispensed with and with this and other objects inview the invention consists in the construction, combination, andarrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, ofwhich the accompanying drawings form a part, in which- Figure 1 is apartial cross-section on the line w on of Fig. 2; Fig. 2, a plan View ofa short section of a railway-track, showing my improved means forholding the rails in position; and Fig. 3, a section on the line 3 ofFig. 1.

In the drawings forming part of this specification the separate parts ofmy improvement are designated by the same numerals of reference in eachof the views, and in the practice of my invention I provide base-blocks5, which are preferably hollow, as shown in Fig. 3, and which take theplace of the usual ties and which are sunk into the road-bed,

and said base-blocks are composed of metal, preferably of cast-iron, andthese blocks are arranged in pairs and are connected by a bar 6, havingcross-heads 7 at the ends thereof,

which are bolted or otherwise secured to said base-blocks 5. Each of thebase-blocks 5 is provided with a transverse groove 8, which is widerat'the bottom than at the top, and the railway-rails 9 are placedthereon, as shown, and each of said base-blocks 5 is provided on itsopposite sides with keepers 10, secured thereto or formed integrallytherewith.

The railway-rails 9 are provided with the usual base-flanges 11, and Ialso provide keyblocks 12, which are designed to overlap thebase-flanges 11 transversely thereof, and the under sides of which areso formed as to conform to the base-flanges 11 in cross-section, andthese key-blocks are provided at their outer ends withdownwardly-directed projections 13, which enter the grooves 8 and areadapted to move therein and which are wider at their lower ends, and bymeans of this construction the key-blocks 12 are interlocked inconnection with the base-blocks 6, the connection therewith being whatis known as a tongue-and-groove connection.

Passed through the outer keepers 10 are screws 14,-, which press on theouter ends of the outer key-blocks 12, and passing through each of theinner keepers 10 is a bolt 15, the outer ends of which bear against theinner key-blocks 12 and the inner ends of which are connected by aturnbuckle 16, it being understood that said bolts 15 are retainedagainst rotary movement and are adapted to slide inwardly and outwardlythrough the keepers 10. The point of engagement between said bolts 15and their keepers may be angular or the end of said bolt which bearsagainst the key-block 12 may be of angular construction and enter acorresponding recess in the side of said block. By means of thisconstruction it will be apparent that the rails 9 or the bases thereofmay be securely clamped in position, and itwill also be apparent thatsaid rails may be adjusted by being forced closer together or fartherapart, and both rails may also be moved laterally or in the samedirection to a certain extent.

The base-blocks 5 may be connected in any desired manner,and instead ofusing the turnbuckle 16 andthe bolts 15 ordinary screwbolts may beprovided for the inner keepers 10, similar to those employed in theoutside keepers 10.

My improved meansfor securing railwayrails in position is simple inconstruction and operation and well adapted to accomplish the result forwhich it is intended, and it will be apparent that changes in andmodifications of the construction herein described may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Theherein-described improved means for securing railway-rails in position,said means comprising base-blocks provided in their upper surfaces withtransverse grooves and at their opposite sides with keepers projectingabove the plane of said grooves, the bases of the rails being adapted torest upon said base-blocks between said keepers, keyblocks which conformto and overlap the basefianges of the rails at the respective sides ofthe latter, said key-blocks being provided with downwardly-projectingextensions or pins which enter the respective grooves in thebase-blocks, devices mounted in the keepers for keying said blocks inposition, said devices consisting of screws which are passed through theouter keepers and bolts which are passed through the inner keepers, andmeans for connecting the inner ends of said bolts and for forcing thesame outwardly.

2. lhe herein-described means for securing railway-rails in position,said means consisting of base-blocks which are substituted for the usualties, said base-blocks being connected and provided in their uppersurfaces with transverse grooves, said blocks being also provided oversaid grooves and at their opposite sides with keepers between which thebases of the rails are placed, and keyblocks which are adapted to beplaced on the flanges of the rails, and which are provided withdownwardly-directed pins or projections which enter said grooves, anddevices mounted in said keepers for keying said blocks in position, saiddevices consisting of screws which are passed through the outer keepers,and with bolts which are passed through the inner keepers, and the innerends of which are connected by a turnbuckle, substantially as shown anddescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as

